Gekkosou charcoal is made from willow (specifically, the Chinese white willow) that is carefully cultivated in the garden of a charcoal artisan and former Gekkosou staff member.
Fully matured branches are selected and harvested after the leaves have fallen. They are overwintered in water-filled pots, and in early April, when new buds appear, the bark is stripped and the wood is dried. The heat is adjusted by carefully monitoring the wind, humidity, and condition of the firewood, and the wood is fired in a handmade kiln for approximately nine hours. It is then left overnight to cool naturally.
The charcoal is carefully removed from the kiln, taking care not to break or chip it. When the charcoal pieces ring with a clear, high-pitched sound, Gekkosou’s finest fully carbonized charcoal is complete. From cultivating the raw wood, a single piece of charcoal is born through an incredibly long and meticulous process.
This charcoal is used every year for sketching at the Yukari Bunka Kindergarten, designed by the world-renowned architect Kenzo Tange. Being continuously chosen by an educational institution that demands the very best is a source of pride for Gekkosou, as well as a humbling responsibility.
The foundation of craftsmanship is aesthetic sensibility and love. We believe that the accumulation of these qualities creates a decisive difference from mass-produced goods over time.
